Sharpening device



July 22, 1952 A. P. KOMOW 2,603,862

- SHARPENING DEVICE Filed Feb. 16, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ALBERT KOMOW ATTO RNEYS Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3).

Ill

July 22, 1952 A. P. KOMOW SHARPENING DEVICE Filed Feb. 16, 1950 ATTORNEY$ BY m 9 G0 62 ALBERT KQMOW A. P. KOMOW SHARPENING DEVICE July 22, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5.

Filed Feb. 16, 1950 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR ALBERT P. KOMOW BY m fl ATTORNEY-5 July Z2, 1952 Y A. P. KOMOW v 2,603,86 2

1 SHARPENING DEVICE I v Filed Feb. 16, 1950 v I 5Sheejs-She't5 INVENTOR ALBERT P. KDMOW ATTORNEYS Patented July 22, 1952 UNITED STATES Q FF I smm zfiziwms. I

Application February 16, 19.5.0, seats).- 14443.0,

9 Claims. (01; 30 139.

- scribed,-.in which the..press.er-fo.ot rodis adapted to. be moved automatically. to. its. bottommost position :inwhichthe. presser-footiis .clear. of the knife; simultaneouslywith,thestartof the downwardxmovement of. the, grinder mechanism, and inx whichsaid presserrfoot rod is automatically raised-to an: uppermost position with. the ,grinder mechanism;

Stillianother object of. the inventionv is-to,-pro- .videe sharpening means in which, the grinder stones contactthe knife only. during. the. upward movement of the grindermechanism,.thus-.givr ing longerlife-totheknife.

A further. object of-the inventionis the provision. of: sharpeningmeans. of the. character describedinwhichthe grinder mechanism'ma'y be manually adjustedto compensate. for wear of? the knife and: also to ,1 obtain various. width bevels. on

the knife-.-

A. still; further object of the inventionis the provision:- of' a. presserfoot which is transparent, so that, theeworkcan,be observedby. the operator during. the Y cuttingoperation.

'I hese and: additional. objects of; my, invention are set forth inthe following description and drawings, which. illustrate. apreferred' embodimentthereof, itbeing understood that. the above statement. of. the objects of. my. invention. isintended; generally toexplain the same Without limiting itnineany-manner.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the cloth cutting machine embodying thev improved device, with portions. thereof; being; broken; away along; line lw' l of. Fig}. 3-to more clearlyreveal certaininterior. construction. In. this View tne,-..sharpenin assembly is. shown during its. downward travel intermediate-its. top and bottom positions;

Fig. 2,. is; a fragmentary. front elevation: with portions. of. the machine being shown in section. In this view the sharpening assembly is, shown initsuppermost position which isthe, normal cutting-position of. the machine I l BZisaIIagmQntaIfy frontelevationpalitially in. section taken alongline 3'3- of- Fig; 1; This view is similar to that-of Fig. (2; except that the grinding mechanismis in thecourse ofits down ward travel 1 Fig. 4'.is a1front elevation-simiIar'tQ-Figr 3, but showing; the grinder-mechanism; as; it arrives at itslowermost position.. In this-view-thefgrinder assembly. is shown in section astaken; alongflinj'e 4;-4:'of'Fig5 9; g

Fig. 5 is a front elevation? similar to Fig. fiibu-t showing the grinder assembly as it begins itsyup; ward travel; I

Fig. 6. isa horizontalsectionalviewtaken along line 6 -6"of-Fig. 7. The position; ofgthemachine partsinthis view corresponds tothat ofI ig;.--1;;

. Fig. 7 is .a rear elevationaliview of-the machine in which. the position of itsparts corresponds to that shownin Fig, 4; and the uppermost position ofg'the grinder. assembly, is, shownin brokenjine;

Fig. 8.1is a partial rear elevation, similar to .Fig. '7; but; showing the grinder assembly in -itsup'p'ermost position which; corresponds to the position QfFig. 2 k

Eig. 9 is.a.bottom plan view offthe grinder as;- sembly or. the ma hin w th. th ;.s. er shown in their.spread1or inoperative positiongand Fig. 1' 0ji.s'a vertical.sectionalviewof the grinder assembly, takenalongline lite-lnofjliig. .3,

Certainnarts. of the. cloth cutt ngma hine may be. of. any standardor, conventional.construct on. Referring toFig. LthemaQhinehasa base. ike handle. ltnxedt'o theframe. of themach negand amotor. casingJL The motor. housed'withinth asing.is.;o.f'tl .1e usualtyp audits. constructipnjs.

thereforahot; shownflin detail... 'lT emachi ieha a longitudinal standard. l4), in Whih..a.10ngjtiidi nal knife l.5,'is..guided. andmountedjfor longitudinaloi: vertical reciprocatin movem nt- -'I he mechanism-ion l itud nally n cinrocatineg. th 40 ventienal. and. W ll. known; ther iore, referenc kni e. lama selected longitudinal. path. iscon- 1 6. Said. presser iootisfixed. at. 0.1.1. end

bottom of. a. retaining. arm 22,,by.- meansof 2 I. or other means. ofv attachment. The retaining. arm. 22.- ssecuree to .thei ewer end. f. alqneitudinal. presser-foqtrod 1.8., by, means of screws 11. 'lfhetpresser foot L6. is forked at its free. en and the. edge, of, knife 1.5 is located in. saidff ork, so that presser foot It acts as a. gua11d.. The long tudinal. presser-foot rod. l8.1has.. l e'u vertical series of horizontal and laterally disposed teeth I9, and has at its upper end a finger hold 26 by means of which the rod I8 may be manually adjusted in vertical position at any desired height. Y

Presser foot I6 is preferably made of a thick transparent plastic such as Lucite or the like so that it is possible to see the work being done while the machine is being used in its cutting operation. Said transparent presser foot l6 may have a longitudinal guide line (not shown). which is parallelly alined with the longitudinal axis of the machine base, so that the operator of the,

machine may insure a straight out in the cloth.

In general the machine has grinding mechanism which is mounted for. longitudinalor vertical movement relative to the standard l4 and knife l5. During normal cutting operation, this grinding mechanism is located at the upper end of. the knife in an inoperative position in which its grinders are out of contact with theknifeq .When a's uitable lever is actuated, however, the

grinding mechanism is automatically brought to .the bottom of the knife, the grinders are auto- ,matically broughtinto contact with the knife, and; the grinding-mechanism is automatically raisedto its original position; During this raising operation, the grinders sharpen the knife.

After the grinding mechanism is ,brought to its original raised position at the upperend of the knife, it is automatically held in this position until the lever is again actuated. In Fig. '7, the shaft 24 of the electric'niotor in casing I2 is shown. Shaft 24 is keyed orotherwise suitably rigidly connected to'disc 25.

,Apin 26 is connected off center to the'disc 25,

and the head 21 vof connecting rod 28, is turnably mounted upon thepin 26. The lower end 'of the connecting rod 28 is pivotally connected Ltofthe top of the usual knife-support |5a. This" ,connection is not shown as it is wellknown. The annularperiphery of the disc 25 is cut in order to provide a worm gear 29. This worm zs can mesh'with a worm wheel 30, ,whose hub 3| is releasably. fixed'to the turnable, and vertical shaft 32..v .This shaft132 is rotatably, mounted" in a 'specialbracket or housing H. The hub 33 of a bev'elge'ar 34 is also fixed to the shaft 32, so that ,the worm wheelf3|l and the bevel gear 34 turn in unison. The bevel gear 34 meshes with either of two companion bevel gears 35 and 36 whose respective hubs 31 and 38 are rigidly connected to opposite ends of a horizontal shaft 39,

as is shown in Fig. 6. The companion bevel gears 35 and 36 are horizontally'ortransverselyalined with 1 each other, and face. each other.

' The outer end of the hub 38 of inner bevel gear 36 is secured to a pinion40 which meshes with a vertically-movable rack 4|. The shaft 39 turns in a bearing 42' which is part of the bracket or housing H, and is transversely slidable in said bearing 42 so that either of the'companion bevel :gears 35' or 36 maybe alternately brought into operative engagement with the. bevel gear 34.

The bevel gears 35 and 36, the horizontal shaft 39, and the pinion 40 turn in unison. A com- 4 35 is stud shaped, having a peripheral groove 31a. A retaining arm 41 is mounted adjacent said hub 31, said retaining arm 41 having an arcuate recess which ,fits within the peripheral groove 31a, of hub 31. Said retaining arm 41 ismounted on a block-like lever 48 by means of screws 49. The lever 48, as shown in Figs. 2-5, is pivotally 'mounted at one end on the machine frame by means of a screw 56. A tension spring 5|, which is attached at one end to the lever 48 by an elongated screw 48a and at'the other end to the frame of the machine, urges the lever 46 to its normal position shown in Fig. 3 in which the retaining arm 41 is disposed in a vertical position. If, at this time, the inner bevel gear 36 is in contact with bevel gear 34, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, the arcuate groove of retaining arm 41 is located within the peripheral'groove 31a of hub 31, thus locking the inner bevel gear 36 and the bevel gear 34 in their meshed relationship. If, on the other hand, the outer bevel gear 35 is in operative engagement with the bevel gear 34, as shown in Fig. 5, the'retaining arm 41 is located in front of and abuts the front face of the hub, 31, looking said outer bevel gear 35 in its operative position. i

The rear end of a transverse bear 52 is slidably housed in a vertical slot 53 of the machine frame. The front end of said transverse bar 52 isrigidly connected to a vertical'rod or shaft 54 whichis mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in a bearing of the machine frame. The vertical rod 54 thus guides the transverse bar 52 in the vertical movement of said transverse bar 52. A flat spring 55 is secured at its top end to the outer face of the transverse bar 52 by means of screws 56. This flat spring 55 extends vertically downwardly from the transverse bar 52 and has a cam-shaped free bottom end 51 which abuts the hub 31 of outer bevel gear 35. Spring 55 is preferablj made of a strong metal which is semiflexible such as a thin sheet of spring steel. As

shown in Fig. 1, the spring'55 is made of a'double is in meshed engagement with the bevel gear 34.

The bracket H is mounted turnably on the horizontal shaft 39, as shown in Fig. 6, so that said bracketH has a limited transverse turning movement relative to the frame of the machine. The rack 4| is guided in a suitable bore of the-machine frame, independently of the bracket H, so that the movement of the rack 4| i always vertical.

A grinder bracket 58'is secured to the lower end of the rack 4| by a screw 59 or by any other suitable means. One end of a transverse blade spring 60 is secured to the bracket 58, preferably by screws 6|. The other end of the blade spring 60 is secured to a block 62 and to a transverse bar 63, by means of screws 64, as shown in Fig. 9. This bar 63 is of rectangular cross-section as shown in Fig. 10.

A'pair of slides 65 and 66 are mounted for sliding movement on said bar 63. Slides 65. and 66 have respective angular faces which slidably eachr other; downwardly; the.- transverse spacing". betweenrth'e aieos soa v interfitr: witlr bar 63,; so; thatcslidesz 85 and. 66: are transverselstslidable relatiile-tovbartfi ,Eaclil slide: 651 and 6.6: bear: respentive rotatable grinders: 61:;- and;v 88; whichvv area of; the? usual? disc typ.e:.' Theushafts off grinders; 61 and; 6.8 are; perpendicular to: each other:

- AszshownzinzF-ig. 4,. theiends o'itransversabar provided with respective: recesses; or' slots 69 andz 18: As shown inlFigsAv and 9.; the upper slide65 isaprovided: with: a recession slot; H at its end: which; is opposed; to the; respective grmder Hi The lower:- slide: 65 hasxawrecessmr-slot 12: at its end adjacent itserespective grinden68a The shank ofia verticalboltJS extendsithroug slot; Gfibfi bar. wand; theivertically alined' slots Eliot upper:- slider 65-. Said: shank' of? bo1t18. 6X:- tend's thmughabore; of lowerslide 66;,and; is

' 'heldzsecurely ilrplhzcn by anon;

Thes off another vertical. bolt 1.5 extends through slot 18 of bar 63:and1the;vertica1ly alined slots-1:2: of lower; slide; (it.v Said: vertical; shankof bvolti 15w-is held in-pl'ace byanut. 18f.

Eh'e slides 65 and: 68 are: thus: slidalrale; relative to bar 63; in; a transverse directionawhich is parallelzto the axis 015: part3;

The superposedouter verticalviaces (lfgt'he slides 65 and; 68 are: PIOVidEdl with respective: lateral pins: Hi and 18,. which are fixed respectively. to said: slides; One end of: a tension spring 19 is connectedi to; pin I81 The: intermediate part. of tensionspring; 19: passes movably around: pin-x11. The: leg; of tension spring which. interconnects pins H: and: 1 8-, thus, urgessaid: slides 65! and 6 6"to "move-:relative toeachnthenin respective opposed transverse; directions, and thus; urgestherespectire grinders 6-1 and; 68: to; move.- transversely-- to:-

wands-eaoh: other and towards the: edge-faces of "knife; 1:5:

Therela-tive transverse; movement of slides: 65

and: 867;; in respective opposed; directions, is controlled by a control arm 80; which isflturnably 7 "connected: by a pivot-pint! to: bracket 58; This controkcam8-llhas alowerendmf tapered: shape,

whichxhasra camrace 8,811 which: contactswith pin-M. Said taperedpart; of: control cam- 80sa-1so has-a: cam; face; 800. which: abuts pin 18: r The top end of? cam: face- 88crterminates in an. arcuatere.-

icess 885!- into which the: pin 18* may enter to re- .--lea-sab'ly"lock the control-cam .80 in-its-,downwar.diy

turned position shownin;Fig-. 2-. Thecam face 188D terminatesinva lower transverse extension 88c. which: acts: as a sto to prevent: the control cam.- 8fl'fromrbeingj turned upwardly out of'contactfi'withthe pin M When control: cam 80: is

turned: upwardly; the; slides and; 66 can: be

moved relative-to-each other-b t tension of: spring t9; so as to move theirgrinders-52randi53 towards When the control cam: 801 is turned grinders 61: 311G358: issincreased. The to edgeof eontrolweam is provided with a horizontalzexa tension: arm: 88a; the: outer" end of which: is: downwandly turned';

s j -Qne end: of tension spring, 79 is: connected to a, pin 82;, which isvfixedzto an adjustmentplate:

83, Adjustmentplate" 83- is pivoted; at its. upper vendrtmcontrol cam 88'-by pivot-pin 8311.. By

turning; this; adjustment plate-8:3 relative'to control cam 80-, theitensionsof spring 18 cambe adjustech Adjustment plate 83 is provided with three holesor recesseszG, M- and S; The-control cam 88 is provided with a lug or'projection 84 which is locateddirect1ybelow the. pivot 'of" adjustment plate. 83. and. is positioned-to.- extend within. any, one; of: the holesT C, 1M or. S when the adjustment plate turneda thus locking; the ill tment'rplatefw in any oneiofsthree seleeted positionsrel-ativato controLca-nr 88.. When lug; MriSlO sated withinithaholet onrecess-S.,;thevspring Hiisundenminimum tension which corresponds tflfthfi' grinding-of: the edge: of: the knife: [5 to maxhnum sharpness or: finish: W-hen; lug; 84 is located? within the. h01eor'recess,-M (as; shown in the, drawings) the tension ofsspring 181s greatengand the; grinders 61'. and 68 producea'a medium edge-vfinish; onknife; I5; Whem lug,"v 84 loca-tedfwithin-; therholez onrecess (3; the.- spring -19; is; under maximumitensiona and tha grinders 61 and 68 are urged towards: eachr other with maximumziorcer; and-1a., coarse: grinding; is? produced onrhnif-e bladezladi Eiggv lfl shows aahollow" ad'iustingscrew 85 whichiextends laterally. through; as tappedi. bore .ofi-brackettiflr endiofi, this hollow screw has: an: enlarged; terminal; sleeve: 85m which abuts the-bar; 63;; so; that: bar; 6:3 eanbe adjusted laterally relative try-bracket. 58i I sincesthe-c'blade spring; 68;; provides a; bendable: andi resilient; coninejction between bracket 58="and' bani-3. lateral adjustment. ofsbar 63rre1ative; to bracket 58 inakesit possible, to: adjust thezv'grinders. 61 and: fiarlaterally relative: to standard: t4;- irr. order to allow 'f-onkniveszV-I 5: ofiwdifierent: Widths. Also, as? aa knife ti-becomes; warm it is: possible to. ad'- justwbarr' 6:3: and sliders; 65 and 66d,- closer towardsstandardjil lz.t-

. As is olea'rlyz-"shdwrriirr rei ns and: 10;; the 1 101 A low screw- 8:5 is. splitzlongitudinally'. Whem bar 63 has been adjusted by screw585; saidz'banw is locked in. adjusted position by' a. pin 86; whose shanlr has:artl lreaded'v endi. engages: the threadmffantappedlb0re18'l. of bar 63; The pin 8+hasa-head 86w which; has: a-conical base 8615. When said: pin; 86: is screwed inwardly; the conical base; 86bxenters; a correspondingly shaped recess ino-the; headiof the=hol1owadjusting screw 85, z'wedgingsaidhsplit screw 85'apart, and lockingwit itsadjustedsposition;

Means: are provided for: automaticaHy turning the control canr 8.8rupwardly, so. as to. move the grinders: 61-" and: 68: automatically toward each other, into operative. grinding: positions when the bracket 58 is moved to its: bottom position of 4* and: '7. As shown in- Fig; 7" the. presserfoot: ro d% l:8;;has.=a bottom: lateral projectionor ex tension-88:; When bracket '58: is moved to its bottom: position; the: downwardly-turned endof the? transverse? extension: arm. 8811 of control cam flllrstrikes theztop. of lateral projection 88, causing saidacontrol cam fisflztosnap upwardly so thatthe :gfillditrSfiTfind'fiB are moveditowards each other 7 to; contact: with: the: faces. of the edge of knife l5. Ilhe head 89 of a. screw protrudes below the bottom: surface of. the:machine: frame; Whenthe bracket 58 iswmoved-te: its top position ofFig; 2, sthe extension arm Boa-of control cam 88. strikes this screw head" 89': and; is; turned. downwardly, ljust befiore bracket 58; reaches: its: top position, ,thustransversely; separating grindersv 61 and 68 from the transversely opposedE-faces: of J the''-- edge of -lnife' L5. .The pin 18-- enters the'recess 80d of' thef-control-camiiflh thus; releasablyiocking said control. cam; 882 in its; downwardlyeturned'. position;. and-holding; grindersr 5-T-and 68 transversely separated from knife l5.. a

- As-"showninFig. 2,;the' housing: H is provided with; a: lateral-t extension which; has a vertical recess 98. shownzin llig, 1 a 1atch9ir is pivotally' connected to, the: frame "of: the: machine by ar -horizontaltransuersezpivot: pin: 92,; so that latch 9I turns infalate'ral plane. A 'verticalcompression'spring 93, which is located in a vertical re ess" of the fr'ame'of the machine, biases the latch-9|; to urge its latch finger 94 to enter recess 99 and thus hold housing H in the operating position of Fig. 3 in which worm gear 29 meshes thus turning latch 9I against the force of spring 93 to release housing H.

A transverse rod 91 is turnably mounted in a bearing of the machine frame, as shownin Fig. 6. An enlarged sleeve 97a is removably secured to theouter end of rod 91. A lever 98 is also fixed to saidtransverse rod 91 intermediate the'ends thereof, said lever 98 depending from said rod '91. The end of a block 99 is secured to the rear end of-the rod 91. An actuatinglever I99 is 'connected-to'said block 99'." Said actuating lever I99 has a bracket-shaped end I9! which is pivoted tosaid block 99 by a pivot pin or screw I02, so that said lever I99 is horizontally pivotable in a rearwar'dly direction, independently of theblock .99, as shown by the broken line representation of Fig. 6. A compression spring I93, which is seated in a bore I94 of block 99, bears against the end of actuating lever I99 and normally urges said lever I99 to its normal position shown 1 in Fig. 6, in

' depending lever 98 abuts the'enlarged head'of a pin I9! whose shaft has a threaded end which is adjustably secured to the'housing H. When the .lever I99 is raised from its normal downwardlytilted position against the tension of coil spring I95, it causes the bar 99, the rod 91, the lever 98,

and the j sleeve' 91a, to turn in. unison. The depending lever: 98 is thus turned from the positionnof' Figs; 3, 4' and 5, in which its lower end abutsthe'head of pin I91, to the position of Fig. 2 in which the lower end of lever 98 "is moved towardthe housing H. The lower end-of the depending lever 98 is provided with a transverse bore I98 in which one end of a compression spring; I 99 is seated. The housing H is also provided with a similar transverse bore II9 which is transversely alined'with bore I98 of lever 98.

The other end of compression spring I99 is seated in-said bore I I9. When lever 98 is turned toward housing H,-it bears against and increases the tension of compression spring I99, causing said :spring I99 to urge the housing H to turn about its pivot, the horizontal shaft 39, until the worm wheel,39 is brought out of meshed relationship with the worm gear '29, as shown in Fig. 2. The

housing:I-I may be so pivoted or turned when the latch finger 94 is removed from its'corresponding recess 99 in housing I-I.-

When thehousing H is pivoted, as described in the last preceding paragrap'h,'the lower. longitudinaledge thereof bears against the end of 'th'e elongated screw 93a; of the block-like lever 48, as

,shown' in Fig. 2, causing said lever' 48' to turn 8 against the tension of spring 5|, until the retaining arm is brought out of contact with the groove 31a of outer bevel gear hub 31. The block-like lever 49 may also be turned independently of the housing I-l. iSaid lever 48 has a screw or other projection III on the upper surface thereof adjacent its free end, which is vertically alined with the rod 59. When the transverse bar 52 is moved downwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, the bottom end of thedepending vertical rod 54 strikes this projectionI-I I tocause retaining arms! to be moved out of contact with the hub 31 of outer bevel gear 35.

.As shown inFig. 1, the rear end of the transverse bar 52 has a depending pin I I2 which holds the top'end'of a vertical compression spring H3. The lower end of said compression spring 3 is seated in a vertical bore H9 of the machine frame. The spring II3 normally maintains bar 92 in anupward position. Y

' The rack'dl has a transverse screw II5 fixed-to the upper end thereof. When the rack -"is brought to its bottommost position of Fig. 4,'said screw ll5'strikes the top of transverse bar 52, causing said bar 52 to move downwardly against the tension of compression spring I I3.

The grinder bracket 58 has an upper extension 58a'to which an upstanding'pin H6 is fixed. The actuating lever I99 has a transverse extension-lug I I! which is vertically alined with said pin I I6 when said lever I99 is in its forward position of Fig. 6. When the grinder bracket 58 is brought to its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 8, the pin H9 contacts the extension lug N1 of actuating lever I99 and pivots saidlever I99 upwardly. This pivoting of lever I09 causes the worm wheel 39 to disengage with worm gear 29,.

so that the grinder actuating mechanism of the machine is in its inoperative position' 'andthe grinder bracket 58 is held in its inoperative uppermost position. r

When the grinderbracket 58 is to be brought into operative position from its uppermost position the crank [-I 99 is manually pivoted outwardly to the position shown in broken line in Fig.9, in which position the extension-lug II1 can clear the pin H6 of said bracket 58. The crank 'I99 may then be pivoted downwardly past the extension-lug II'I, causing the engage'withthe worm'gea'r 29. r e

The machine is provided with means for releasably holding the presser-footrod ill in its vertically adjusted position, me'ans for releasing said presser-foot rod I8 when the lever I99 is pivoted downwardly, and means for releasing said presser-foot' rod' I8 independently of the grinder actuating mechanism. These means are clearly shownin Figs. '6, 7 and 8. The frame of the machine is provided with an extension H8, at the rear thereof, said extension I I8 containing a through-and-through longitudinal bore -II9. As shown in Fig. 6 said bore I I9 has a rectangular cross-section which conforms in shapeito the cross section of presser-foot rod 18; Presserfoot'rod I8 extends through said bore H9 and is vertically or longitudinally slidable therein. A transverse bore I29 extends through the side of said fraineextensionl I8 and communicates'at its inner end with the longitudinal bore 'I I9.

The outer end of said transverse'b'ore I29 opens in the sidewall of wheel 39'to' a eosge'ea of-teeth I 9 -01 -presser-foot -rod 48. This tapered edge 1 I 2 Ia is positioned to mesh -with said teeth I9 when the plunger 4-21 V is -moved through the transverse bore I20 intoeonta'ct .with-theipresseh foot "rod 48;, -thereby=locking said presser-foot rod l'8-in a vertically adjustedposition. Acompression spring I22 urges the tapered edge -l2-la o'f plunger {I21 out or contact with the teeth of presser=footrod 'l8. The outer' en'd of plunger I'2'I" has an enlarged head 123- which -is sized to slide transversely -within the "enlarged well 120a. As shown in Figs. 7 and '8. this head I23 has a cam-shaped :outer :face .I-23a.

"A lateral shaft 124 is turnably mounted in a lateralfbearing 425 of the machine frame, as showninFi'g. 6. This shaft'isprovided with a crank handle 1124a. .Ablock 1:26 is l-eccentrically mounted on :the end of "said lateral shaft PM; The jcam face "lr23a of 'plunger -head 123 is held in abutment with the end of said block I26'by theften's'ion.ofcompression spring I22.

The free end of block I26 is connectedhy a coil spring I21 to the block 99. When lever 1106 and its attached'block 99 are :pivoted. upwardly, asShownTin'FigB, .the tension of coilspring 121 is lincreased, causing theblock I26 to .pivot upwardly so that its inner edge bears against the carnii'ace 123a of plunger head I23, causing "the plunger 12 l to move inwardly through transverse bore .129, against "the tensionof sprin "I 22, until its tapered edge 121a meshes with the teeth of Dresser-{foot rod 18..

When -lever I110 is pivoted downwardly, its transverse extension lug II'I strikes the free end of vblock I26, as shown in .Fig. 7, causing said block .1726 to pivot downwardly to a position in which it. no longer .presses against the ,cam face I23a of Lplunger head 123. This releases the plunger l2! which .urged by compression spring t22 to ,a position in which it .no "longer meshes withthe teeth of presser-foot rod [8, and .said .presser-Tfoot rod I8 can be manually adjusted.

Bivotinghof the crank handle 124a of lever III2 4 in arelockwise direction, also releases the .presserfoot rod l8 for adjustment, independently of the actuating meehanismof the grinders. When the crankha-ndle I-2Ad .isturned, it .causesblock I26 to pivot downwardly 3 0 a position in which the plunger :I.2. l can be urged out of contact .with the teeth of 'presser foot rod.I8. Theepresserfoot rodvlii may .then 5196 manually adjusted at any desired vertical position, and the crank handle 124a released. A lateral pin 128 is fixed to the frame -.of the machine'below block I26, as show-nin Fig. 7. .Said pin I28 acts as -stop means to prevent :said block l:26 from being pivoted downwardly-through such a large angle that its end is moved (out of contact-with the cam race I 23a of;plunger head I23.

Asshown in Fig. 9,, one arm of .a U-shaped lug-I29 is secured to the bottom :of the lower slide 66 p eferably by means of screws I30. The unattached arm of said U-shaped lug I29 is held spaced .from said-lower :slide 66, and a positioniin which its terminal :edge can contact the lateral projection :88 of gpresser-foot rod 18. As shown in :Fig. '7, this lateral .projectionBB has a hook-like lower portion 88a. When the grinder bracket 58 is lowered .to its .bottommost .position, ..the presser-ioot rod has already efallen to itsbottommost ,position shown ,in Fig. 1, in which'the presser foot II; is resting upon the basejlll of the machine. "As the 'grinder'bracket approaches "its bottommost position, the unattached armof aheeu shaped .lug 4:29 strikes the topidf the' hook like lower portion $8 811 of i lateral projection .88 and due'to the resiliency of lug 11 29.; said unattached :arm :bends upwardlylz-arrd isnaps overssaid hookalihe Flower zportion 138a. Thereinattanhed .''arm ;of :the mil-shaped'flug .1129 is :then located oindersaidehookzalla,;so:1thait dt; may riontactesaid; :bott'oni; of said- .hook. rBBa. when grinder :hracliet 258.;is .lraised, :therebw asimulta ne'ouslyflaisingrthegpresserefoot rod :;l'8.. L

Operation be areniproeated "without sharpening ztheiiknifie; :11

.lIn. this :inoperativezpbsition .of the-grinders, thet upstanding pm .1 L6. or athe sgrinderdaraeket Edi-holds :the actuating lever lllllkintits iupwardly turned Position iofiEig. a zinxwhichethe plunger 12:1 iloeks ithemresser-rfoot ,TOd slz8 :in its 'azenticail position. ffihev'rpresserefoot rodsertrina -:desinedwentical position i-n Which rpresser :faot lifi is garessi-ng :down upon the gpi-le :of rc'lothibeing cu v ,7

' As shown :in .Fig. .2, the lateral screw Qfiat'ithe lower end; of rack 41 -.is,.located Within 'fihfflllllfifl! tangular:slot-slli of the ilatch .91. The latc;h*-.9sl v is iheld in immovable giosition my :the *mojeetion f-housing fiiadii agent-{the recessflllmvhieh bears against the top -of latch 9.-l-.. 'Bhemackefld; and grinder bracket 58 are thusolockediinz their top position. e I

When it is desired :-to,, sharpen knife ilfi, the machine is moved itsgghandle :l'l mnliilthe knif l,5;is/on t;of the-pileofnloth. vThe actua-tingdever l-lll) .iS [then pivoted .rrearwardly jromaits fiulleline position to :its broken .line position :of-EEiaxGfin which thetransverse iextensionelug 5|:|?|':iS.=1m1izontally spaced from the upstanding :pin lil fiemf grinder bracket 58. Flihe actuatin .1&VLB1'..T.|iUDIiS then pivotedwdownwardly :to the mositiomofiififig. i] by the t n nwf sp in 12 7, .Thetb'lockiflfllsa'lso pivots.-.downwardly with the lever f:-l;0.0,.za:nd rthe' bottom f, fi dl look fl istri-kes the free endgb'f block 126, causingsaid block .1126 :tonivot until it abuts the stoppin 42.8. In this :position bloekrlfifieasesitswinward pressure upon nam-dace l12 ofnplunser: 2 enabling :sa'id zi lunger 71:24 to bedl edrml iwardly -loy-=compressionrspringflzz2 untilitsta,pered :end 421 ismo'rlonger inlairched engagement with the teethrof. apresser-ioot and I8. Said gPIGSSEI-QfOQt' rod I8ithereupon descends under theior-ce of; gravity .BDIillSflOV/BI' position of Fig 1 in which the presser foot .415 the topofbaselill. Y

Loweringrof the :actuating lever 1'00 is accelerated by the torsion. spring I05. As'saidactuating lever 169 :p'ivots .rdownwardly, it :causes the lever 98 to turniromiitslposition of Fig. 2, to '-i-ts:posi-- tion of .Fig. 31in which its lootton-i end strikes the head of 1131 3116. turns the hous'ing H to its operative position .of Fig. 3 in which worm wheel" 3-0 is :in mesh Wi-th worm gear 29. In this osi 11 tion-the latch-finger 940i latch 9| enters the recess 99, ofhousing H, locking housing H in its operative position. In this. position, the rectangular slot 95 is moved clear of the lateral screw. 96 of rack 4|, so that'rack 4I.is free to move downwardly. As housing H moves toits operative: position ittdisengages from the end of the enlarged screw 48a of the block-like lever 48, causing said lever .48 to :be pivoted upwardly by spring 5| until the retaining arm 41 is in the vertical position of Fig. 3. The horizontal shaft 39 is held in its outer position by compression spring 43, as shownin Fig. 6, in which position the inner bevel gear38 is in mesh with thebevel gear 34, andthe hub.3l of outer bevel gear 35 is heldin a position in-which its groove 31a is in alinement with said retaining arm 41. When the retaining arm 4'! is brought to its vertical position of Fig. '3, its arcuate groove enters groove 31a of hub 31, and thereby locks the inner bevel gear 36 in its meshed relation with bevel gear 34.

...As the motor within casing I2 operates, it rotatesthedisc whose peripheral worm gear 29 turns wormwheel .39 in a clockwise direction. The pinion 49 is rotated in such a direction that the rack 4| is lowered. The grinder bracket 58 is thus .driven downwardly by the motor housed within casing I2. .Fig. 1 shows the bracket 58 in an intermediate position during its downward travel. During the downward movement of -the grinder bracket 58, the grinders 61 and 38 are transversely spaced from each other and from the edges of the knife I5 since the pin 18 is located within the arcuate recess 89d of control cam 89, holding said control cam 89 in its downwardlypivoted position.

If for any reason, the presser-foot rod I8 should become stuck and fail to reach its bottom position of Fig. l, onthe downward movement ofthe bracket 58, the end of U-shaped lug I29 will strike the lateral' projection 88 of presserfoot rod I8, and carry said presser-foot rod I8 to its bottom position.-

Close to itsbottom position, the extension arm 89a of control cam 89 strikes the top surface of lateral projection 88 of 'presser foot rod I8 turnlng said control cam 89 upwardly to a non-operating or release position shown inFig. 5, so that thegrinders 51 and 68 are moved transversely toward each other to contact withthe opposed edgefacesof knife I5.

:Simultaneously, the free end of'the resilient Ueshaped lug I29 snaps past the hook-line lower endi88a of lateral projection 88, and takes a position below saidlateral projection 88, as shown in Fig. 7. Since the U-shaped lug I29 is fixed to the lower slide, I when the grinders 61 and 6-8 are moved toward each other, the free end of U-shaped lug I29 is moved transversely inward beneath lateral projection 88 to a position in which it can engage the lower surface of lateral projection 88 andraise the presser-foot rod' I8 when the bracket 58 is raised. 1

. Simultaneously with the raising of control cam 89 to its release position, the upper lateral screw II5 on the rack 4I carries the transverse bar' 52 downwardly to its bottom position of Fig. 4 in which the bottom of its depending vertical rod 54.jcontacts the screw III of block-like lever 48 and turns said lever48 downwardly. This moves therretaining arm4'I out of contact with the hub 31; of outer bevel gear-.35. As the transverse bar 52 is lowered, its attachedflat spring .55 is moved downwardly so that its cam-shaped bottom end Brides over the outer face of the hub 31 of outer the horizontal shaft 39 inwardly-so that the inner bevel gear 36 disengages from bevel gear 34 and the outer bevel gear 35 engages with bevel ear 34. This causes the pinion 49 to reverse its direction of rotation and to turn in a direction to raise rack4I.

As the rack M and bracket 58 begin their upward movement, as shown inFig. 5, the upper lateral pin H5 is raised, allowing the transverse bar 52 to be urged upwardly by compression spring I I3. Transverse bar52 carries its depending vertical rod 54 upwardly and out'of contact with the screw III of the block-like. lever 48. The lever 8 is ,then turned'by the tension of spring 5t to its position of Fig. 5, in which the upper end of retaining arm 41 abuts the front face of hub 37. The outer bevel gear '35 is thus tion, the cam end 51. of ,flat spring 55 is raised out of contact with the face of hub 31 as shown in Fig. 5. V V

The pinion 49 now slowly raises rack] 4I and grinder bracket 58 to their top. position, while the turnable grinders 61' and 98 are turned under suitable friction around'their respective shafts which are connected to bracket 58, thus sharpen ing the knife I5 only during the upward movement of said grinders 51 and 68. The knife I5 is reciprocated during the upward movement of grinders 61 and 58. The presser-foot rod I8 is carried upward with bracket 48 by the engagement of U-shaped lug I29 with the bottom 0 lateral projection 88.

Close to the end of the upward grinding movement of bracket 58 and rack M, the extension arm 89a of control cam 89 strikes the screw head 89 in the machine frame, thus turning cam 89 to its position of Fig. 2 in which the grinders 61 and 68 are in their separated and inoperative positions. Also, the upstanding pin I I6 contacts the actuating lever I99 and pivots said lever I99 upwardly. to its position of Fig. 8. At the same time, the lower lateral screw 96 of rack 4| enters the rectangular slot in the latch BI and abuts the top edge of said slot 95,0aus'ing the rear end of the latch 9| to pivot upwardly and causing the latch finger 94 to leave the recess 99 of housing H. Since housing H is now released, raising of the actuating lever I99 causes said housing H to turn to its inoperative position of Fig. 2 in which the worm wheel 39 is out of mesh with the worm ear 29. v V

As housing H turns, it carries with it blocklike lever 48 so that'the retaining arm'4I moves out of contact with hub 3'! of outer bevel gear 35. The horizontal shaft '39 is thus released, and is urged forwardly by compression spring 43, until the inner bevel gear 38 engages the bevel gear 34;

The grinding mechanism has thusbeen returned to its original inoperative position-of Fig. 2, inwhich position it is held until it is again necessary to sharpen the knife. Ordinarily, a single downward and upward movement of the grinders relative to the frame of the machine is suflicient to sharpen theknife. It is to'be noted that the entire grinding operation was auton'iatically effectuated upon a single manual stroke of the actuating lever I99.

In the upward movement of the grinder bracket 58 and rack 4 I, the bracket 58 carries the presserfoot rod I9 to its top position. Asbracket 58 approaches its top position, actuating arm I99 is turned upwardly by pin, I I5, causing blockfIZfi seesaw to pivot "upwardly and force plunger [=21 into latched engagement 'with' the teeth =of'-'-presser foot rod l8. This latchingof presser-foot rod +8 occursshortly before grinder bracket 58-reaches its top position. Grinder bracket 58- therefore continues to moveu'pwardly a shortdistancere1ative to the 'presser-foot'rod +8 whichis locked-in its uppermost "position, causing the end--of the resilient -'U -shaped lug I29 tobe raised past the hook-like lower end 88a of lateral projection 88.

-Whenthe-grinder bracket 58 thus reachesits uppermost position, the hook-like lowerend 88a of =latera1 projection -88 is located beneath the end of U shaped lug -I-2 9; and in a position 'to be released free of the grinder-bracket 'lifl.

The presser-foot rod *1 8 may then be released by turning the crank handle l24a, while the grinding'mechanism remains in its inoperative position, and'thepresser-foot rod may :be-melnually set" in its suitable vertical position. I 'I- ha've shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, but -it is clear a that numerous changes and omissions -can-be made without departing from its spirit and scope. For-convenience, I have: described the device in the position in which the knife reciprocatesin a vertical path, but'of coursethe machine couldbe held in any-suitable position. a I claim:

1. "In a cloth cutting machine having a ifixe'd frame, :a knife mounted to reciprocate vertically relative :to said frame, and azmotor; a knife sharpening device comprising a rack mountedfor vertical movement in said frame agrinder carriage mounted' on the lower endofsaid rack and carryinggrinder means for sharpening said knife, a gear train connecting said motor to said rack for driving said rack vertically between an uppermost position in which said grinder carriage is adjacent the top of said knife and a lowermost position in which the grinder carriage is adjacent-the bottom of saidknife, said :gear "train including first and second intermediate .gear means movably mountedlfor successive and alternate meshing engagement with said gear train, said first intermediate gear means being 'arranged-to drive-said gear train in-a direction to lower said rack, said second intermediate gear means being arranged to drive said gear train ina direction-toraisesaid rack-means carried by 'saidErack for bringing said first intermediate gear means-into meshing engagement with "said gear train when said rack isinits uppermost position, and means carried by said rack for bringing'said second intermediate gear means into meshing engagement with said gear train when said rack is in its lowermost position.

2. In a cloth cutting machine having a fixed frame, a knife mounted to reciprocate vertically relative to said frame, and a motor; a knife sharpening device comprising a rack mounted for vertical movement in said frame, a grinder carriage mounted on the lower end of said rack and carrying grinder means for sharpening said knife, a gear train connecting said motor to said rack for driving said rack vertically between an uppermost position in which said grinder carriage is adjacent the top of said knife and a lowermost position in which the grinder carriage is adjacent the bottom of said knife, said gear train including first and second intermediate gear means movably mounted for successive and alternate meshing engagement with said gear train, said first intermediate gear means being arranged to drive said gear train in a direction to i i lower said-{rack said second intermediate gear means "being arranged to drive said-gear train .ina "direction *to raise said rack, means carried by "said rack *forbringi-ng said 'first intermediate gear means into meshing engagement "with 1 said gear train-when saidrack *is in its uppermost position, means-carried by said'rac-k for-bringingv said second intermediate gear means "into meshing engagement with said "gear trainwhen said rack is in-its lowermost position, said gear train beingfmovably mounted 'onsaid-frame for-movement between an -operative position inwhich it engages said motor and i an inoperative position imwhichit is disengaged from said motorimeans on i said frame positioned for -manual actuation to move said *gear train to its --operative position, and means carried by said rack for moving-said gear train -'to its inoperative position when said rackreaches itsuppermost positions 1 In a cloth l cutting machine having --a fixed frame, a knife mounted -to--reciprocate vertically relative to said frame, and a motor; a knife sharpening devicecomprising a-rackmountejd for vertical movement-in said frame a grinder car-'- riagemountedon the lower end of said rack and carrying grinder-meansfor sharpening said knife, a 'housing pivotally mounted on said frame, a gear=train mounted in said housing and connectingsaid rack to said -motor, said gear train inclu'di-nga drive 'gear'located to'mesh with said motor, a "drive bevel gear coupled to said drive gear and -=turnable in unison therewith, a first and second intermediate bevel gear mounted face to face-ona common s'hafton either side of said drive bevel gear for meshing relationship i therewith, *-said shaft "being slidable in said housing between --a first position'in which only the first intermediatebevel gear is in mesh with 'the drive bevel gear, and-a-second position in which said second intermediate bevel "gear is in mesh with said driveebevel'gearpsaidshaftbeing also coupled to-- a pinion in constant mesh with said rack, said first and second intermediate bevel-gears being adapted torespectively raise and lower saidrack, spring meansnormally biasing said shaftto its first position-cam means actuableby said rack to slide-said shaftto its second -positionwhen said rack reaches its lowermost position, said housing being pivotable between an operative position-in which said drive gearis'in meshwith the motorand an inoperative position in which the 1 drive :gear is out of "mesh with said motor, an: operating handle mounted in said' frame'and coupled to saidhousing'for pivotingthereofrsaid rackicarrying a flxed member positioned to contact said 'handle and raise said handle-to apositioni'in 'which it pivots saidhousin'gto-its-inoperative position when said rack is raised to its uppermost position, said handle being also positioned for manual movement to a release position in which it is clear of said fixed member and free for movement to a depressed position in which said housing is pivoted to its operative position.

4. A knife sharpening device according to claim 3 in which said grinder means comprises a pair of horizontally-slidable bars mounted on said grinder carriage, a grinder stone mounted on each of said bars, spring means urging said bars in opposite directions to bring said grinder stones in contact with said knife, a pin mounted on each said bar, and a wedge shaped spreader pivotally mounted on said grinder carriage for movement between said pins, said spreader being of suificient width to force said pins apart a suflicient distance to space said grinder stones out of contact with said knife, said machine frame having a fixed portion positioned to contact said spreader and pivot said spreader between said pins when th rackreaches its uppermost position, saidmachine having a projection rigid therewith and positioned to contact and pivot said spreader out of contact with said pins when-said raek reaches low mo t o 1 1:; V

1 ,v Ash men ns d i e qrd a ol 4 n a which said machine also has a presser; foot rod 7 foot rod having a lateral prgjectionadjacent its lower end, one bar of. said grinder carriage hearing .a lateral detent;positioned to engage said lateral projectionwhen grinder stones are moved intocontact with said knife-whereby; said grinder carriage raises said pressenfoot rod whenthe rack israised; saidpresser foot rod also carrying the projection for pivoting the spreaderout of contact with the pins. 7 v x 6. In combination with a cutting machine having a frame a motor, and a knife mounted for vertical reciprocation in said frame andhaving a cutting edge; asharpening device mounted in said'frame for movement in a direction; substantially parallel to the cutting edge-of said knife between an uppermost position in which said sharpening device is adjacent the top of said knife, and a lowermost position lll which said sharpening device is adjacent the bottom of said knife, a presser foot rod mounted in said frame for movement ina direction substantially parallel to theedge of said knife between an uppermostposition adjacent the top of 'said knife and a lowermost position adjacent the bottom of said knife, locking means to hold said presser foot in a selected adjusted position intermediate'itsfupr ually operable means to actuate said driving means andsimultaneously to release the locking means from said presser foot rod wherebysaid presser foot rod is free to fall to its. lowermost position, said presser foot, ro d having a lateral vice and presser foot rod, said sharpening device carrying said presser foot rod to its uppermost position by means of said detent, means associated with said machine frame and positioned to contact said presser foot rod to move said presser foot rod out of engagement with said sharpening device when said sharpening device and .presser foot rod reach their uppermost position. a I

.7. A device according to claim 6 in which said sharpening device has sharpening means, spring means to hold said sharpening means in contact with said knife during the upward movement of said sharpening. device, and means for automatically bringing said sharpening means out of contact with said knife when the sharpening do: vice is in its uppermost position, and for holding said sharpening means out of contact with the perrnost and lowermost positions, locking means to holdsaid sharpening device in its uppermost position, driving rne ans driven by said motor and coupled to said sharpening device; for moving said sharpening device through a downward and upward cycle from its uppermost to its lowermost positionand back toits uppermost position, man- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name a Date l,1'73,983 Perlman Feb. 29, 1916 1,372,079 Marshall Mar. 22,1921 1,462,650 Maimin et al July 24, 1923 1,678,989 Maimin July 31, 1923 1,815,017 Wagner July 14, 193i 1,815,018 Wagner Ju1 '14ji931 2,010,967 Simon Aug. 13, 1935 2,295,654 Gury, Jr Sept. 15, 1942 2,450,473

Goldie Oct. 5, 19 18 

